This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Wasatch Mountain Club, a 1,200-member outdoor recreation club, has transferred ownership of its historic lodge at Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon to a new non-profit venture.

The Wasatch Mountain Club Foundation was organized last year to support educational, scientific and literary projects that benefit historic and natural resources on public lands in Utah.

The goal of the foundation is to preserve the lodge and make it available to the general public.

The log cabin structure was built by WMC volunteers starting in 1929, with numerous additions and upgrades over the following decades. The lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its being one of the few structures remaining from the early years of recreational activity in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The plan is make the lodge available to the public through open houses, reservations for scheduled events, and donations of use time to eligible charitable and educational organizations. Individuals and community organizations will be able to schedule private events at the lodge with payment of a cost-based fee.

"Our use of the lodge as a private clubhouse has declined over the decades but our membership wanted to see the building preserved for the community," John Veranth, president of the WMC, said in a statement. "This gift will put the lodge in the hands of a group of trustees who are fully committed to managing this precious resource for public benefit."

Information about using the lodge will eventually be posted at http://www.wasatchmountainclubfoundation.org.

Wildlife Protection Society series

Park City-based Wildlife Protection Society is holding the fourth program in its 2010 "Wildlife Education Series" on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jim Santy Auditorium at the Park City Library, 1776 Park Ave.

The program is titled "Recreating in Wildlife Country" and will include information about new trails, runs and lifts that will be available for winter enthusiasts this season. There will also be a short presentation by Wild Aware Utah about local wildlife that can be found in our mountain environment.

Limited snowmobile access

Snowmobilers headed to the Monte Cristo trail area need to know about closures to portions of the trail in the Curtis Creek/Ant Flat area. State Route 39 from Curtis Creek to the Woodruff gate is closed to all vehicles, including snowmobiles, through Feb. 28 for pipeline construction. Ant Flat Road between Highway 39 and Hardware Ranch is closed until Wednesday, Dec. 15. From Dec. 15 to Jan. 1, Ant Flat Road between Hardware Ranch and Scare Canyon will be closed. It will not be possible to make a complete circuit of Curtis Creek Loop until after Jan. 1 and an 18-inch base of snow allows for grooming. Call 800-OHV-RIDE or visit snowut.org for more information.

Utah State Parks events

Dec. 18 • Jordanelle State Park near Francis is holding a clinic called "Animal Adaptations." Join the park naturalist from 10 a.m. to noon to learn about animals that live in the park. Snowshoe through the park and learn how to identify animal tracks. Bring snowshoes or borrow a pair from the park. Pre-registration is required. Day-use fee is $7 per vehicle with up to eight people or free to Utah State Parks pass holders. 435-782-3030 or 435-649-9540.

Wasatch Mountain Club

The following events are sponsored by the Wasatch Mountain Club. Visit http://www.wasatchmountainclub.org for more information.

Dec. 12 • Snowshoe Greens Basin in BCC, 9 a.m. Jim 801-733-0627.

Dec. 12 • Afternoon snowshoe in BCC, 1 p.m. Jean 801-633-5225.

Dec. 16 • Snowshoe the Cottonwoods, 9:30 a.m. Norm 801-266-3703.

Dec. 18 • Snowshoe Big Cottonwood Canyon, 9 a.m. Holly 801-272-5358.

Dec. 18 • Snowshoe Silverfork in BCC, 9 a.m. Michael 801-328-4512.

Dec. 19 • Snowshoe Greens Basin, BCC, 9 a.m. Jim 801-733-0627.

To get your event listed, e-mail the info to brettp@sltrib.com or mail it to Brett Prettyman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 90 S. 400 West, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.